No, this isn’t my favorite hip hop albums. These are albums that capture the heart and vibe of the city in all it’s hustle, grit, architectural beauty, and melancholy.
Burial – Untrue (2007)
This album was my inspiration for this list. This album will make you see things in a new way. The perfect urban album.
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M83 – Before The Dawn Heals Us (2005)
Like an urban electronic opera from the future.
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Miles Davis – ‘Round About Midnight (1955)
What the city streets look like in the wee hours of the night.
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Radiohead – Kid A (2000)
Thematically, OK Computer is the better fit, but sound-wise I think Kid A is the best match. Songs like Kid A, How to Disappear Completely, and In Limbo are great examples.
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Cut Copy – In Ghost Colours (2008)
Has that downtown party vibe.
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Daft Punk – Discovery (2001)
Don’t know why, just is.
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Everything But The Girl – Temperamental (1999)
“I drag the city late at night. It’s in my mouth, it’s in my hair.
The people fill the city because the city fills the people, oh yeah.
I cross the street, avoid the freeze – A city’s warmer by a couple degrees.
The smell of food. The smell of rain. I’m not immune – I love this tune.”
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John Coltrane – A Love Supreme (1964)
Summer in the city music. Jazz mirrors life in a way that no other art form can. (A masterpiece by the way).
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Kraftwerk – Computer World (1981)
An album dealing with the rise of computers just seems to fit somehow.
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Tristeza – Dream Signals In Full Circles (2001)
Beautiful futuristic electronica.
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Thelonious Monk with John Coltrane – At Carnegie Hall (1957)
Two of the all time greats. Jazz perfection.
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Miles Davis -Kind of Blue (1959)
I had to add this one in here. The muted trumpet in Blue In Green is just hypnotic. A perfect urban soundtrack.
[...] should have included this with my Favorite Urban Albums list. It took me a few listens to get into (but doesn’t it always with new bands?). Rockin [...]
I fucking love TEMPERAMENTAL! I’m completely sad they never put out another album, but I’m glad at least they left us with such high point. I love listening to it late, late at night (which I think it was meant for). An all time classic.
yeah, that album is high on my list of favorites. Tracey sounds amazing and has some great lyrics and Ben does an awesome job with the music.